Sexual harassment turns research focus on Asia

Dec 10, 2020 at 06:39 pm by Staff


Extended WAN-Ifra research into sexual harassment in media workplaces is to look at problems in southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The second phase of the research by WAN-Ifra's Women in News initiative with City, University of London, will run until March 2021. An initial phase which collected responses from Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It follows an initial study in 2018 which identified "a significant gap" in data on sexual harassment in media in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab Region and Southeast Asia. This new study will look specifically at those regions to better understand the extent of sexual harassment in the media industry in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab Region and Southeast Asia.

The research will be a combination of a survey of media professionals as well as interviews with media executives, and is targeted at media professionals regardless of their gender, hierarchy or whether they have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment.

News media organisations, regional and national media associations, and industry partners will contribute to the survey. The interviews will be conducted with media executives focusing on their perceptions about the problem of sexual harassment. WAN-Ifra says findings will be anonymised, and no individual or organisation will be named.

Women in News director for southeast Asia Jen Teo says that despite denials, sexual harassment remains a problem in Asia. "We know it remains pervasive and is therefore underreported. This research will bring out the figures and demonstrate the need for strong workplace policies prohibiting sexual harassment at work.

"Whatever the form, sexual harassment undoubtedly upsets the victim and can cause emotional harm, and physical and psychological trauma. It also causes a decline in work productivity and job satisfaction. It's therefore in the interest of individuals and of businesses to address this issue directly in their workplace."

Participants wishing to participate in the Southeast Asia portion of the study and are currently working in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines or Vietnam can do so by clicking at either one of the language survey links below:

English: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5gOwG2ExJYgaKON

Burmese: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7PWw7Vqx1gtFulv

Indonesian: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55rjmt3giSBamfX

Vietnamese: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_00v8LJHblkv11nT

For more information on the study or to register interest in participating in the Arab Region survey visit: http://womeninnews.org/post/149

Sections: Newsmedia industry

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